May I Bring a Friend?

A timeless picture book where poetry, color, and kindness meet.

Beni Montresor’s jewel-like illustrations turn a simple story into a royal celebration — full of rhythm, wit, and a touch of absurd charm. Every page glows with rich, theatrical color, as if lit from within by stage lights. You can almost hear the rustle of silk and the polite laughter of the King and Queen welcoming yet another unexpected guest — a giraffe, a hippo, a troop of monkeys.

It’s a book that teaches good manners without a trace of didacticism, inviting children to laugh, repeat the rhymes, and enjoy the sheer joy of imagination. Montresor’s work is elegant and full of movement, like a small opera in watercolor — no surprise from an artist who designed sets for Fellini and De Sica.

A perfect read-aloud for the youngest readers — musical, bright, and endlessly kind.